Few shows have shaped network television like Law and Order did when it first aired on September 13, 1990. Whether you think that's a good thing or a bad thing is debatable, but it's hard to argue otherwise. In any case, 1990 in television for drama is a truly bleak time. There is exactly one drama (Twin Peaks) that I have on my list of shows to watch that aired in 1990. (Comedies... well that's a different matter. There's Cheers late in its run and The Simpsons and Seinfeld starting theirs.)
Ever since I started watching Law and Order from the beginning, I've long been fascinated with its constant cast turnover*. At least one regular cast member left every year until the eighth season. Interestingly enough, the show didn't necessarily do this because it needed a better character - with the possible exception of Paul Sorvino. However, once Jerry Orbach signed onto the main cast, each new replacement seemed to improve upon an already good character.
*Because I was intrigued, George Dzunda left the show because he lived in LA and possibly wanted more screetime. Dan Florek and Richard Brooks apparently left because the show needed females. Paul Sorvino left because he felt the schedule was too difficult and he needed to preserve his opera voice. Michael Moriarty left because... well either because he was concerned that the show was becoming less violent due to Janet Reno or because he overreacted and became erratic. And Chris Noth left the show due to a contract dispute.
I've always wondered what the prime of Law and Order was and never expected to find an answer. The show is as consistent as any show and while that also means it rarely approaches greatness, you aren't getting disappointed either. Or so I thought at least. The first four seasons largely confirmed my suspicions. That's not to say there's not great episodes, but it seemed to take the formula of the show too rigidly. There was always a reason the show wasn't as great as it could be, but only in hindsight.
The first season is remarkable in how already fully-formed the show is, however if you've seen quite a few Law and Order episodes, these won't seem original. They hadn't told any stories yet so naturally the first season will suffer from virtue of every story after it being a variation of that original story. The second season gets an unexpected boost when it kills off a main character because George Dzundza wanted off the show, but ruins the chance by replacing him with Paul Sorvino. Sorvino may not have been bad, but he's definitely the most forgettable character of the eight seasons I've watched and second place isn't close.
Sorvino was replaced in the middle of the third season with Orbach. I'd say that turned out well. All of a sudden, the police aspect had two cops worthy of being partners with each other. In the fourth season, we realize what we've been missing when Jill Hennessy replaces Richard Brooks. I was a big Brooks fan myself, but there's little question the show improved from that change.
In season four, I distinctly remember thinking that the character of Ben Stone had reached its end point. His moralizing and idealism didn't really leave much else to do. Michael Moriarty played him expertly so it was still entertaining, but when Sam Waterston joined the main cast in season five, the show seemed to take a creative leap. A large burden of the show is placed on the executive A.D.A. Sure, watching the detectives banter is enjoyable and the mystery is sometimes intriguing, but really you watch the show so Jack McCoy can own people in court.
It's here I would argue is the "prime" of Law and Order. Or to put it another way, this is what I would call the essential Law and Order. McCoy's character introduction is a little clunky because they place far too much emphasis on him having been sexual partners with his two previous assistants. (That's actually a plot point I would like dropped completely personally. It's not that a character like McCoy couldn't do it, but it doesn't really fit in character either.) The show still mostly remained light on character.
I personally would limit the "prime" of Law and Order exclusively to seasons six and seven. (Note: I've only seen the first eight seasons.) But I wouldn't begrudge you if you included five and I suppose eight depending on how many years you're aiming for. To further my point above though, season five should absolutely be included in the "essential" Law and Order. You should probably watch at least a season of Detective Mike Logan, because he was a vital part of the show for its early years. Season five to me lacks what the next two seasons bring - a personal touch on their lives - but its worth watching for the cast.
The sixth season brings in Detective Rey Curtis. I won't pretend to act like Benjamin Bratt is the reason the show entered its prime, but with him came a concerted effort to look into the personal lives of the characters. It's established Curtis is a family man, and he loses his temper at very specific things that make you realize what type of person he is. I've never seen a character so effortlessly and so easily defined by his actions as Curtis. (Obviously Bratt deserves a lot of credit though)
You know what else came in the sixth season? The show really tried hard to work around the formula. In "Remand," new evidence reveals the wrong man may be in prison to start an episode. The next episode starts off with a girl calling about a horse getting murdered, and after that they re-open a case when a little boy is killed with the M.O. of a man in prison. And I beg anybody with even the slightest interest in Law and Order to go watch "Charm City" now. It's a crossover episode with Homicide: Life on the Street. Of course, I'd also encourage you to watch that show, but seeing as I've never seen it and it's not on any streaming service I'm aware of, you'll have to settle for this.
The sixth season ends on a bang with two fantastic episodes of television. "Pro Se" features a schizophrenic attorney played by Denis O'Hare who represents himself in court. If you've ever seen O'Hare before, you'll know this is going to to be a great episode. On the last episode, the absolute best I suspect Law and Order ever was is "Aftershock." I'm not positive if this is the only non-formula episode in the entire series, but I couldn't find another example. "Aftershock" has the four main characters - Kincaid, McCoy, Briscoe, and Curtis - witness someone get the death penalty. Their reactions are the rest of the episode - no crime, no suspects - and it's a good commentary on the death penalty in my opinion - and the show indicates that the guilty party did deserve the death penalty if you assume the death penalty should be legal. But it's not really about a commentary on the death penalty, but a microscopic look at each of their lives. Briscoe meets with his daughter who hates him, McCoy gets drunk and talks about his father, Kincaid reflects upon quitting, and Curtis is clearly heavily affected by it due to his Christian values.
The seventh season is just as good if not better. The entire season is a slow burn of the after-effects of what happened in "Aftershock." It also features the introduction to Carey Lowell. One of weaknesses is the show places too much emphasis on Lowell's attractiveness - I think something like the first ten episodes all comment on it and it just keeps getting mentioned over her run. It's not a big deal, but Hennessy was good-looking too and her attractiveness was rarely mentioned (if ever). To be fair, the show also did this with Bratt though to a much lesser extent and more subtler. (Where male characters would just blatantly say she's really hot, in Bratt's case, witnesses would just ask him out or flirt with him. And any time an old lady flirts with Orbach is the best).
The season starts off pretty strong with an original storyline: a completely unethical judge played by Jerry Adler (the mystery's pretty strong too). He plays the same basic type of character that he played on The Sopranos and Rescue Me and I don't mean that as a bad thing. "Corruption" sheds further light onto the past of Briscoe when his old partner recruits him for a bust. His ex-partner ends up killing the suspect and nobody can corroborate his story. (Plus Curtis being strongly against corrupt cops is both perfectly in character and awesome.)
Then in what is the first three-part story on Law and Order, the show goes to LA to investigate the death of movie executive. Briscoe's pretty much the only one of the four main characters who doesn't get too much to do - he really just encourages Rey to cheat on his wife really. Curtis is tempted to cheat on his wife with Lauren Graham and as you can imagine, it's not easy. Jaime Ross is challenged by her ex-husband, who is such a good lawyer he fights her on child support trying to distract her from the case. Really, these three episodes are a showcase for her character. McCoy mostly gets to have incredulous facial reactions because of how ridiculous the trial is. But Waterston is so good at it.
"Mad Dog" provides an interesting ethical dilemma when McCoy harasses a paroled sex offender trying to get him back in jail. It helps that we can safely assume the sex offender is the same as he always has been, but without proof it's hard to justify the measures McCoy goes to. The very next episode has McCoy debating whether to make a questionable deal with a killer. Lastly, "We Like Mike" is unconventional in that it completely depends on one witness who is increasingly given reasons not to testify.
Through fourteen episodes of the eighth season, I can't include season eight into the essential or prime. It lacks any extremely personal episodes for the main characters and only a few of the episodes seem extremely original. It's probably more entertaining than the early seasons if only because since I've been through all this with the main characters, I am more invested in them.
If you had to list the essential Law and Order, watch seasons five through seven. They feature three of the four best detectives (if not the three best - I have not focused on Ed Green enough to judge him), two strong A.D.A.s, Jack fucking McCoy, an extremely underrated Steven Hill, and the longest-running character on the show, S. Epetha Merkenson.
I've long thought Law and Order was simply an entertaining procedural but nothing more. Seasons six and seven exceed that. The show looks even better when considering the context: 1996-1998 were the years that those seasons ran. It was probably one of the best shows airing at the time. Unfortunately, I doubt it ever reached those heights again. So if you've got a desire to watch Law and Order, watch seasons five through seven to see both the essential characters and the best seasons the show likely ever did.
My posting is a bit sporadic due to school, but I hope to get in an Alias season 2 review on Tuesday. I theoretically want to write about the second season of The X-Files as well, but it's been a month since I saw it so I should probably refrain. I might try to write one anyway.
